Tent.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. E. E. MANN.

TENT.

APPLIOATIN FILED MARB, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor,

l I o Attorneys PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

E. E. MANN.

TENT. APPLIGATION FILED Mums. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attorneys N0. 809,516. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

E. B. MANN.

TENT.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.zs, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l ZJgb- EMWZZ//lnventon Attorneys UNITED srnwnnr orrrcn.

EDGAR EBENEZER MANN, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ADELAIDE E. MANN, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

' TENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

in small compass for transportation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tent structure of such nature that it may be placed in position and firmly secured without the aid of guys, ropes, or pins and which when once erected 1s self-supporting to the extent that its center'pole may be removed, so that the whole of the interior ofthe tent will be free and unencumbered.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tent in which all of the frame members may be made of very light metal tubing, so that when folded for transportation it may be conveniently carried and may be set up or struck with but slight exertion.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view of a tent constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of sufficient of the same to illustrate the invention, the parts being shown in open position. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the members of the frame collapsed. Fig. 4.- is a side elevation showing the manner in which the cover of the tent is wrapped around the frame members. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the head-plate detached. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the same, illustrating the employment of separate pivotlugs secured to the plate. Fig. 7 is a lan view of the stretcher-carrying slide detac ed. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of one of the ,of one of the corner-posts.

side bars, illustrating also the upper portion Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the corner-posts and the end portions of adjacent side bars. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the side bars. Fig. 11 is a'detail sectional view of one of the flap-closing devices.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention the canvas or other fabric is supported on a suitable frame, which may be formed of very light metal tubing, the various members of the frame being pivotally connected or provided with detachable connections and the arts being so arranged as to permit ready olding into small com ass.

The various parts o the tent receive preliminary support from a center post 10, that is provided with a centrally-disposed guiding-opening for a ground-pin 11. The lower end of the post is protected by a -thimble or ferrule 12, having a tapered opening, and at its upper end is secured a plug 13, having a threaded portion, which projects beyond the end of the post. The pin 1l has a pointed end, which may be inserted in the ground, and its upper end is provided with a projecting arm 14, that extends through a vertical slot 15, formed in the post, the arm affording a striking-face for the driving-maul, so that the pin may be driven into the ground to any required depth, and when inserted the proper distance either the pin or the post may be turned until the projecting arm is inserted in one or other of a plurality of stepped recesses 16, that open into the vertical slot, thus firmly locking the center post to the ground.

The folding frame structure includes a vertically-disposed tube 17, preferablyl formed of metal tubing and of square or polygonal form in cross-section, the lower end of said tube being provided with a plug 18, the proj ecting portion of which is threaded, and the threaded portions of the plugs 13 and 18 are detachably connected by a threaded coupling-sleeve 19. The upper end of the tube 17 is provided with a second plug 20, having its upper threaded end extending beyond the top of the bar, the lower portion of the plug being set within the top of the tube and held by one or more countersunlz screws 21, the plug serving to stiffen and strengthen the end IOO of the bar, but aording no projections which might interfere with the folding or unfolding operations or prevent packing the tent within small compass.

On the threaded plug 20 is screwed a headplate 2,3 of a contour corresponding to that of the tentkthat is to say, rectangular for a four-Wall tent, hexagonal for a six-wall tent, or octagonal for an eight-wall tent.

'This plate is provided with a number of openings 24, separated by arms 25, and on the arms are vertical partitions 26, forming spaces for the passage/ of air in order to ventilate the tent. To the outer edge of the head-plate are secured hinge members 27, which may be cast integral with the plate or formed separately and secured thereto, and to these hinged members are pivoted the inclined rib or rafter members 28. After the head-plate has been screwed into place a small post is screwed on the projecting portion of the thread-plug 20, this post being also formed of hollow tubing and being provided at its upper end with a plug 31, having a threaded portion arranged to receive a top plate 33, that is provided with openings of a number corresponding to the number of openings 24 on the head-plate, and the partitions 26 are extended up to the arms which separate the openings of the top plate, thus forming a series of vertical passages through which heated or impure air from the tent may escape. The periphery of the top plate 33 is provided with a continuous annular groove 35 for the reception of the peripherally-corded top of the tent, the latter being secured in place in any suitable manner.

The threaded portion of the plug 31 extends for some distance above the top plate and is arranged to receive a hood 36, preferably an approximately dome-shaped piece of metal that will prevent the entrance of rain to the tent and will serve as a ventilator. Above this the threaded portion of the plug receives a reducing-coupling 37, to which is screwed the foot of a flagstaff 38.

Mounted on the non-circular bar or tube 17 is a vertically-movable slide 40, the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the head-plate, being octagonal in form in the present instance, and each ofthe sides of said slide is provided with hinged members 41, to which are pivoted hinge members 42, carried at the inner ends of stretchers 43, and in assembling these parts the hinge members are preferably inserted within the ends of the tubes of which the stretchers are formed and then confined in place by cross-pins or screws. The slide may be moved downward on the bar 17 until the stretchers 43 are in the horizontal position and then locked in place by a detachable pin passing through both the slide and tube or may be moved upward after the removal of the pin 40 until said stretchers assume a position approximately parallel with the bar, this movement causing the ribs or rafters 28 tomove inward and the several members being thus folded within small compass.

At the outer end of each stretcher 43 is secured a small sleeve 45, connected by hinge members 46 to a sleeve 47 on the rib 28,while the extreme outer end of the stretcher abuts against the under side of the rib and forms a support therefor, as shown in Fig. 2. The sleeve is further provided with a pivotal connection 48 at the top of a corner-post 50, and each corner-post is formed of a metal tube having a bottom ferrule 51, which rests on the ground. Within the tube 50 is a pin 53, having at its upper end an arm 54, that projects through a slot in the tube and is arranged so that it may be driven by a maul, and when embedded in the ground the arm 54 may be inserted in any one of a number of recesses 56 formed in the tube, said recesses opening into the slot 55. rPhe upper end of the corner-post 50 is provided with a cappiece which rests against the inner side of the rib 28 and against the under side of the stretcher 43, and it will be seen that when the parts are once adjusted to the proper position the main center post 10 will be unnecessary and may be removed, so that the whole of the interior of the tent will be free from obstruction.

Each of the cap-pieces at the outer ends of the posts 50 is provided with a socket 60, arranged to receive the laterally-projected ribs 61, carried by arms 62, projecting from the ends of the side bars 63 of the tent-frame. When these bars are formed of wood, they are provided with end slots 64, into which the arms 62 are inserted and secured by crosspins or rivets, while the ears 61 project in such manner that they may be conveniently inserted in or removed from the sockets or the side bars may be formed of metal tubes, to which the inner members are riveted or otherwise secured.

To each of the side bars 63 is secured a number of eyes or hooks 67 for the support of rods 68, and on these rods are hung the side ,walls of the tent, preferably by small hangers 69, having hook portions at each end, one for engagement with an eye at the top of the canvas and the other arranged to t over the rod 68, so that the wall of the tent may be opened or closed by sliding the hangers on the rods.

It is desirable in many cases to lock the side walls of the tent to prevent intrusion, and for this purpose one side wall or, if necessary, all of the side walls are formed of two separate pieces of canvas, at the meeting edges of which are secured clips, each clip comprising a pair of plates 70 and 71 and a locking member 72. The plate 70 is riveted or otherwise secured adjacent to one edge of the canvas and has an opening 73, While the IOO IOS

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opposite plate is secured to the opposite edge and has pivot-eyes for the reception of end pintles projecting from the member 72, so that when the latter is inserted through the opening 7 3 and turned the two edges of the canvas Will be locked together, and as these fastening devices are on the inner side of the wall they cannot. be opened from the exterior.

After the tent has been set up the center post may be removed and will not be required until the tent isto be struck, after which it is placed in position; The side walls ofthe tent are then removed by lifting the hangers 69 from the rod 68, and after this the side bars 63 are removed. Itis then necessary to push the slide 40 upward to the position shown in Fig. 3, after first turning in the corner-posts 50, all of the parts folding up umbrella fashion in the manner shown in Fig. 4.

It will be observed that the tent maybe erected without the employment of any guys or stays and without theemployment of the usual tent-pins and may be readily folded in small compass for transportation.

Having thus described the invention, what 'is claimed isy 1. A foldable tent having a sectional center post, the lower section of which is attached to and forms a support for the upper section during the erecting and striking of the tent, and is detachable to leave a clear space below the upper section when the tent is in use,

corner-posts, rafters connecting the cornerposts to the upper end of said upper section, a slide movable on said upper section, and stretcher members extending between vthe rafters and the slide.

2. A foldable Vtent having a center piece formed of upper and lower detachable sections, the lower section constituting a support for the upper section during the erecting and striking of the tent, and being detachable to leave a clear space below the upper section when the tent is in use, corner-posts, rafter members extending between the upper end of the upper section and the corner-posts, a slide movable on said upper section, stretcher members extending between the outer ends of the rafters andthe slide, and means for locking said slide to the lower portion of said upper section.

3. A folding-tent frame, including a center post formed of upper and lower detachable sections, the lower section serving to support the upper section during erecting and striking, and being detachable to leave a clear space under the upper section When the tent is in use, corner-posts, rafters or stretchers pivotally connected to the-corner-posts, the rafters having a pivotal connection with the upper end of the up er section of said center post, and the stretchers forming a truss and supporting the upper section of the center ost.

4. In a folding-tent frame, a sectional center post, of which the lower section forms a support for the upper during erecting and striking of the tent, and is detachable to .afford a clear space below the upper section when the tent is in use, said upper section being non-circular in form, a slide having a non-circular opening mounted on said upper section, a head-plate secured to the upper section, corner-posts, stretchers extending between the slide and the corner-posts, and rafters pivotally connected to the head-plate and to the u per ends of the stretchers.

5. In a olding tent, a sectional center pole, formed of metal tubing, a head-plate carried by the pole and provided with a plurality of air-escape openings, a top plate also carried by the pole and provided with similar openings, said top plate being provided with a peripheral groove to receive the top of the tent fabric, vertical partitions extending between the head-plate and top plate, and forming channels for the passage of air, and a protecting-hood carried by the pole and extending over the top plate.

6. In tents, a hollow post, open at its lower end and provided with a slotted wall, and a ground-pin arranged within the post and having a driving-head extending through the slot.

7. A tent-post formed of a tube open at its lower end and provided with a slotted wall, there being recesses formed in the walls of the slot, a driving-pin arranged in the post and having an arm projecting through the slot to form a driving-head, said arm being insertible in any one of the recesses to lock the post to the ground.

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S. In a tent-post, a hollow tube having at i EDGAR EBENEZER MANN.

Witnesses:

ADELAIDE E. MANN, L. F. PARKER.

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